From the Bride… My husband Joel grew up in San Antonio, Texas and is the youngest of three boys. Joel graduated with honors from UT in Austin and then jumped to Houston and Dallas with his career. Needless to say, he was an All-American Texas boy so when his next career moved him to San Francisco, he didn’t know what was in store for him…

I grew up in Southern California and moved up to Sonoma for college. I moved to San Francisco after school and spent 8 wonderful years in the city. A friend of mine reached out asking me to join her for her boyfriend’s work happy hour. We were to meet at a fancy new bar in the marina called Reed & Greenough. When I walked into the bar, I thought there must be some mistake because the only people I saw were my girlfriend, her significant other, and one other guy sitting at a round table. After a drink, we started some shuffle board and the rest was history. Joel and I had so much fun exploring San Francisco together, the entire city felt open and new. We loved trying new things like wooing and wine pairing classes, new restaurants, and going on weekend trips to Stinson Beach, Napa, Mendocino, Tahoe, Carmel, and more. After 3 years of dating, we went on a trip to northern Italy together. The 3rd night of our trip, I had made a reservation at a beautiful chateau called Villa San Michele. I had no idea Joel even knew about the reservation but my parents leaked the secret when he flew down to Orange County the week before to ask for my hand in marriage. That night in Italy while we were getting ready, Joel completely had me fooled asking to go grab pizza down the street and if he should be wearing a coat, etc. Once we arrived to our little piece of heaven overlooking all of Florence, we walked around the gardens enjoying the scene. Finally at dinner, Joel excused himself to use the restroom and came back on one knee.

Wedding planning was a lot of fun and what we cared about most were music and an extraordinary venue. Once I found Beaulieu Garden, the search ended. It combined the feel of Italy and Napa for an elegant and beautiful day. The little details such as having our favorite vintage books as decor elements, a meaningful quote on the matchboxes, a live performance artist sketching the party, and Joel’s favorite 80’s band made it feel very personalized for us. Jenny from JNS Events supported us throughout the planning process. We can’t imagine how we would have done it without her. Highly recommend!

Now that you’ve fallen in love with this couple and their hoedown rehearsal dinner I think it’s high time we dive into the wedding day that followed. It’s one of those incredible celebrations that could only ever happen with a crew of top-notch vendors behind it, and thanks to A Savvy Event, Got Light, Paula LeDuc, plus Jessica Burke and Paperweight Films capturing the fun, that’s exactly what happened. Let’s not waste another second chatting and instead, head straight to The Vault.

From Jessica Burke…Allie + Constantine were married at Beaulieu Garden in the Napa Valley. With A Savvy Event at the helm and Paula LeDuc catering, it truly was a one-of-a-kind event. So many amazing touches – from the mirrored reception tables, to the insane lounge setups, crystal chandeliers and everything in-between, it was unforgettable for all!

From A Savvy Event…Allie and Constantine met in New York City, but chose to say their I Do’s on the West Coast, choosing Napa’s breathtaking Beaulieu Garden as their venue. The couple wanted a setting that was warm and welcoming, and one that could host their friends and family for an extended weekend of festivities. Napa, with its unmistakable charm and refined-country vibe, fit the bill perfectly.

The couple opted for a Black Tie affair–a fact that was illustrated by incorporating a black velvet ribbon in the oh-so-swanky invitation suite (which Nessa from The Card Bar executed beautifully). Soft, elegant and romantic details peppered the entire affair–from the French silk ribbon that tied the bride’s bouquet of white and blush peonies, to pink sequined cocktail linens that added that special celebratory flair to the overall aesthetic.

Arrangements both soft and grand boasted everything from garden roses to hydrangea to anemones. Trailing passion vines finished off the florals, adding a touch of whimsy to the formal affair. Guests dined al fresco under the shade of an age-old Sycamore arbor–arguably one of the venue’s most ethereal details. Crystal drop chandeliers were suspended over mirrored dining tables–creating an absolutely magical secret-garden-esque area for guests to celebrate. A myriad of dreamy candlelight and a mix of unexpected florals adorned each table.

Two white leather bars, accented with super chic brass studs and gold accessories were stand-out pieces at the event, and framed the venue’s glimmering outdoor pool perfectly. We created a lounge area (complete with formal black cane back chairs) where guests could relax and mingle. Our favorite detail, though? Plush pillows that boasted the couple’s custom monogram sat pretty on tufted white linen couches and made for a detail guests won’t soon forget.

Overall, the event was the perfect balance of Big City Chic and Napa Au Natural. We absolutely adored working with Allie and Constantine to create an affair that reflected their interests and tastes (and one that everyone–including Allie’s 90-year-old Grandfather–was able to enjoy).

From Jubilee Lau Events…Christine and Oskar lived in Hong Kong, but envisioned a beautiful and intimate destination wedding in Napa Valley. They picked Auberge du Soleil as their wedding venue for its sweeping views of the valley and Michelin-star rated food. With 80 friends and family flying in from all over the world to join them in their celebration, our team was asked to make it a really special and memorable weekend for everyone.

Guests received hand-selected sparkling wine and local baked goods in wooden boxes upon their arrival to Napa Valley. On Friday evening, they were shuttled to a “secret location” for the Welcome Dinner, which was Ram’s Gate Winery in Sonoma. There, guests had a wonderful wine country experience with a winery tour, wine tasting, and a 3 course dinner with wine pairings. Due to El Nino this year, we had a superb rain plan in place that included a clear tent on Auberge’s terrace, but lucky for everyone, we were blessed with glorious skies and weather on the wedding day! Christine and her ladies spent a relaxed morning in the bridal suite on site while Jane Kim of The Glamourist took her time making sure everyone looked remarkable. It was very important to Christine and Oskar that they preserve the tradition of not seeing one another prior to the ceremony, which made the anticipation peak right before we sent Christine in her amazing Monique Lhuillier dress down the aisle that was lined with foliage, blooms, and succulents.

For the design of this wedding, we went with a clean, modern, organic glam look. We wanted it to be refined and polished with some hints of whimsy. Shades of blush pink and white, with neutral tones like warm greys and browns filled the event spaces. The ceremony was held on the terrace, with the panoramic valley view as the natural backdrop. We brought in Cherries to create tall, blooming cherry blossom trees for Christine and Oskar to exchange their vows under. Guests enjoyed the magnificent view through cocktail hour, before they were invited to take their seats inside the reception space, which was softly draped and filled with blossoming branches and candles. Gold foil menus that had each guest’s name in gold calligraphy rested on top of blush dupionique napkins. To honor Oskar’s Swedish background, there were funny and touching toasts all throughout dinner, as friends and family shared many wonderful memories of the couple.

After dinner, guests were invited to the Cedar Room, which we completely transformed into the most dreamy, ethereal dessert room as the wow factor of the evening! White and blush draping blossoms, with greenery and moss, draped from the circular ceiling of the room. A variety of beautiful wedding cakes by Sweet on Cake, desserts by Auberge, and petits fours by Dragonfly Cakes were displayed on real tree stumps, custom cement pedestals, and special furniture. As the backdrop to Giggle and Riot’s photo booth, Cherries created a fresh floral wall filled with blush and white blossoms. Guests were in awe of the room transformation and indulged in the desserts while rocking the dance floor all night to the tunes of the live band Apple Z.